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Identification of a novel role for Drosophila MESR 4 in lipid metabolism
Author(s) -
TsudaSakurai Kayoko,
Seong KiHyeon,
Horiuchi Junjiro,
Aigaki Toshiro,
Tsuda Manabu
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
genes to cells
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.912
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1365-2443
pISSN - 1356-9597
DOI - 10.1111/gtc.12221
Subject(s) - biology , lipid metabolism , gene knockdown , energy homeostasis , microbiology and biotechnology , adipose tissue , zinc finger , lipid droplet , homeostasis , drosophila (subgenus) , fat body , metabolism , regulator , gene , biochemistry , transcription factor , receptor
Drosophila provides a powerful genetic model to analyze lipid metabolism. Drosophila has an adipose‐like organ called the fat body, which plays a crucial role in energy homeostasis. Here, we conducted a fat body‐specific misexpression screen to identify genes involved in lipid metabolism. We found that over‐expression of a nuclear protein with nine C 2 H 2 type zinc‐finger motifs and a PHD ‐finger, Misexpression suppressor of ras 4 ( MESR 4), reduces lipid accumulation in the fat body, whereas MESR 4 knockdown increases it. We further show that MESR 4 up‐regulates the expression of major lipases, which may account for the reduction in lipid storage in the fat body and the release of free fatty acids ( FFA s) in the body. These results suggest that MESR 4 acts as an important upstream regulator of energy homeostasis.